Not All Those who Wonder Are Lost
I changed the title to my blog, because I am done with school but not training, and want to use this for other ramblings and musing along my journey.
The title of this one is the name of the next tattoo I am going to get as a memory piece for my dad. Anybody that knew my dad knows he didn't always take the most direct route from point A to point B. Was it the fastest route 99% NO, were you going to see some pretty cool sites and learn some things 100%. The tattoo I am going to get is a simple Compass with that written somewhere and then his initials LRP 4/22/47-07/01/18.
Dad didn't always like using maps, sometimes it was more fun just to drive and see where the road took us. Other times he had real DETAILED directions from point A to Point B. I remember one trip we took locally we drove what seemed like forever, ended up on the Anderson Ferry boat crossing the river, (this was before we knew our way around Cincinnati/NKY area,) Looking back on it now, I know exactly where we were and it wasn't that long of a journey but maybe IT WAS. Sometimes the Trip isn't ALWAYS about the destination, sometimes the JOURNEY, is more important then the actual Destination. Some of the Greatest Vacations or time I spent with my parents was when we really didn't have a defined destination or time to get there, we just got in the car and DROVE. (I am almost 100% positive that he had some inkling where he was going, but would play it off like it was a coincidence that we ended up in that spot). Never seemed to matter how far "OFF THE BEATEN PATH" we traveled we knew Dad was with us and would guide us in the right direction. I remember another time shortly after I got my learner's permit, dad said "Let's go for a ride" so we got on the Toll Road in our Ford Econoline van, (some of you just smiled cause you KNOW the van)and drove into downtown Chicago, he drove ALL OVER The City, (trying to confuse me and get me lost) We pulled over on the Magnificent Mile, he got out and walked over to the passenger side and said move over to the driver seat!!!!! Um OKAY, so I slid over, he said "We live East of here, get us home" Reclined the seat back and closed his eyes. So I had to actually remember what he had taught me about how to get around A) A large City, and B)Find out which way was N.E.S.W. I learned A LOT That day, HOW TO navigate using a simple compass, not going left or right, but North, East, South, West. (That still irks people to this day, I forget to tell them you need to go right or left, you need to head east on this street, and then go south at this road, Usually get the glazed over look. I made it home, and dad had a great nap.
Been thinking about him a lot the last few days, have spent many a night awake and thinking about him, I have shed MANY MANY Tears in the last week. But that is what you do when you have a loss you grieve and people do that in different ways. It's been really cathartic and hoping that it will come to an end, but I am NOT Going to fight it, I know it's okay to weep, and I do that a lot. Tonight was a rough night because we went over to mom's house and Daughter asked Grandma where did grandpa die (they were in Louisville at the time, and didn't find out until they got home) So Grandma said, he was sitting on this stool and he bent over to die his shoes, and fell forward to the floor. Then she started crying which triggered other's. She really misses her Grand Pa, the kids are resilient but have been through A TON, with all they have been through last couple months. She really was grandpas favorite Granddaughter (FYI He only had ONE Granddaughter) I tell her it is okay to grieve and it is okay to cry, that helps, we can miss Grandpa but we also need to remember the good times we had with him, all the fun vacations and short trips we took together. I probably should get into a support group, but honestly I don't have time right now, getting ready to go Over The Road. I will one day, I spend a lot more time in the word, and have found a few "Bible Plans" in the bible app, about dealing with Grief and loss, and how to do it biblically and remember God is walking with us and carrying us when it get's to be to much. When the weight of the world drives us to our knees, God has put us into the perfect position to pray.
It's kind of neat if you think about it how much we as not only Christians but also Father's how much Christ like we really are. Think about it, we may not have all the right answers but there is a book that has all the right answers, Life's instruction manual, sometimes when you lose your way, all you have to do is open life's "Map Book, that give's you directions back toward the proper trail, sure you didn't listen to the Shepherd and went off on your own accord, but HE LOVES Us enough, to provide the light unto our feet and path, so that we may see our way back to Righteousness and following him. It's not always as simple as turning North East South West, with Christ it's always a U-Turn, because if you look up one day after doing YOUR Life and you realize how far God seems to you, guess what my friend you need to remember which one moved? I am in darkness right now in my life, but I am comforted knowing I'm not the ONLY Person in the whole world who right now is in darkness, all we have to do is FACE The Light, 23rd Psalm said, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear NO EVIL, for your rod and staff comfort me. God will NEVER Forsake you, he has an undying love for you, We serve a merciful Loving God, who will, no matter how far the sheep wonder a way from the Shephard, all you have to do is repent, and Follow The way THE Truth and the Life.
If you are going through darkness or weathering the storm, Remember Jesus Calmed the storm just by speaking to it. Don't let the storm tell you how big it is, tell the storm how big YOUR GOD IS. Remember Everyone is going through a trial you don't know. Be kind and love everyone. Say a prayer, grieve, reach out to others.
LOVE EVERYONE
Thanks For traveling and putting up with my randomness
firemedic2816
Looking forward to getting on the road soon.
The title of this one is the name of the next tattoo I am going to get as a memory piece for my dad. Anybody that knew my dad knows he didn't always take the most direct route from point A to point B. Was it the fastest route 99% NO, were you going to see some pretty cool sites and learn some things 100%. The tattoo I am going to get is a simple Compass with that written somewhere and then his initials LRP 4/22/47-07/01/18.
Dad didn't always like using maps, sometimes it was more fun just to drive and see where the road took us. Other times he had real DETAILED directions from point A to Point B. I remember one trip we took locally we drove what seemed like forever, ended up on the Anderson Ferry boat crossing the river, (this was before we knew our way around Cincinnati/NKY area,) Looking back on it now, I know exactly where we were and it wasn't that long of a journey but maybe IT WAS. Sometimes the Trip isn't ALWAYS about the destination, sometimes the JOURNEY, is more important then the actual Destination. Some of the Greatest Vacations or time I spent with my parents was when we really didn't have a defined destination or time to get there, we just got in the car and DROVE. (I am almost 100% positive that he had some inkling where he was going, but would play it off like it was a coincidence that we ended up in that spot). Never seemed to matter how far "OFF THE BEATEN PATH" we traveled we knew Dad was with us and would guide us in the right direction. I remember another time shortly after I got my learner's permit, dad said "Let's go for a ride" so we got on the Toll Road in our Ford Econoline van, (some of you just smiled cause you KNOW the van)and drove into downtown Chicago, he drove ALL OVER The City, (trying to confuse me and get me lost) We pulled over on the Magnificent Mile, he got out and walked over to the passenger side and said move over to the driver seat!!!!! Um OKAY, so I slid over, he said "We live East of here, get us home" Reclined the seat back and closed his eyes. So I had to actually remember what he had taught me about how to get around A) A large City, and B)Find out which way was N.E.S.W. I learned A LOT That day, HOW TO navigate using a simple compass, not going left or right, but North, East, South, West. (That still irks people to this day, I forget to tell them you need to go right or left, you need to head east on this street, and then go south at this road, Usually get the glazed over look. I made it home, and dad had a great nap.
Been thinking about him a lot the last few days, have spent many a night awake and thinking about him, I have shed MANY MANY Tears in the last week. But that is what you do when you have a loss you grieve and people do that in different ways. It's been really cathartic and hoping that it will come to an end, but I am NOT Going to fight it, I know it's okay to weep, and I do that a lot. Tonight was a rough night because we went over to mom's house and Daughter asked Grandma where did grandpa die (they were in Louisville at the time, and didn't find out until they got home) So Grandma said, he was sitting on this stool and he bent over to die his shoes, and fell forward to the floor. Then she started crying which triggered other's. She really misses her Grand Pa, the kids are resilient but have been through A TON, with all they have been through last couple months. She really was grandpas favorite Granddaughter (FYI He only had ONE Granddaughter) I tell her it is okay to grieve and it is okay to cry, that helps, we can miss Grandpa but we also need to remember the good times we had with him, all the fun vacations and short trips we took together. I probably should get into a support group, but honestly I don't have time right now, getting ready to go Over The Road. I will one day, I spend a lot more time in the word, and have found a few "Bible Plans" in the bible app, about dealing with Grief and loss, and how to do it biblically and remember God is walking with us and carrying us when it get's to be to much. When the weight of the world drives us to our knees, God has put us into the perfect position to pray.
It's kind of neat if you think about it how much we as not only Christians but also Father's how much Christ like we really are. Think about it, we may not have all the right answers but there is a book that has all the right answers, Life's instruction manual, sometimes when you lose your way, all you have to do is open life's "Map Book, that give's you directions back toward the proper trail, sure you didn't listen to the Shepherd and went off on your own accord, but HE LOVES Us enough, to provide the light unto our feet and path, so that we may see our way back to Righteousness and following him. It's not always as simple as turning North East South West, with Christ it's always a U-Turn, because if you look up one day after doing YOUR Life and you realize how far God seems to you, guess what my friend you need to remember which one moved? I am in darkness right now in my life, but I am comforted knowing I'm not the ONLY Person in the whole world who right now is in darkness, all we have to do is FACE The Light, 23rd Psalm said, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear NO EVIL, for your rod and staff comfort me. God will NEVER Forsake you, he has an undying love for you, We serve a merciful Loving God, who will, no matter how far the sheep wonder a way from the Shephard, all you have to do is repent, and Follow The way THE Truth and the Life.
If you are going through darkness or weathering the storm, Remember Jesus Calmed the storm just by speaking to it. Don't let the storm tell you how big it is, tell the storm how big YOUR GOD IS. Remember Everyone is going through a trial you don't know. Be kind and love everyone. Say a prayer, grieve, reach out to others.
LOVE EVERYONE
Thanks For traveling and putting up with my randomness
firemedic2816
Looking forward to getting on the road soon.
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